Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Wretched of the Earth, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Colonialism, Racism, and Violence
Oppression and Mental Health
Capitalism, Socialism, and the Third World
Decolonization, Neocolonialism, and Social Class
Culture and the Emerging Nation
Summary
Analysis
This section deals with mental disorders suffered by those after torture. Group number one is a group of patients who were tortured indiscriminately as a “so-called precautionary measure.” Police had beaten the victims, burned them with cigarettes, and struck the soles of their feet with sticks. Water was forced through the mouth and soapy enemas injected using high pressure. Bottles were rammed into their rectums, and they were tied down and beaten with billy clubs. Those who are tortured and know something are almost never seen in the hospital. Usually, it is only those who are tortured and don’t know anything. Symptoms of those tortured include depression, anorexia, and restlessness, as well as an overwhelming sense of injustice and indifference to morals.
Presumably, the people tortured here have done nothing to warrant such treatment. Their torture is a “precautionary measure” meant to keep them terrified and in line, not to uncover any information or rebel plans of action. The violence they are subjected to for the sake of violence and terror is unspeakable. Such violence not only physically breaks a victim, it destroys their dignity as well. Furthermore, the torture is quite sexual and is akin to rape, a complete invasion of personal space and bodily autonomy, which totally subjugates the Algerians.
Themes
Group number two includes those who have been tortured with electricity. Prior to 1956, torture by electricity was one of many methods of torture; however, after September of 1956 electricity was used exclusively for certain interrogations. Victims suffer delusions, apathy, and a fear of electricity.
It would be bad enough if electricity was reserved for only certain cases, but this unspeakable violence is a first response, which again underscore the widespread torture used in the Algerian War.
Themes
Group number three are those who have been tortured using truth serum. They were injected with Pentothal, an effective method sometimes used instead of electricity. It is administered intravenously by a doctor. “I am a doctor, not a policeman. I’m here to help you,” they say before injecting the Algerians. Symptoms include repeatedly denying having said anything to the interrogators. They suffer from permanent anxiety and have poor sensory perception. One-on-one conversations are feared, and they suffer from inhibition.
Fanon seems to take special offense to the use of doctors in the capacity of torture. The doctors’ comment, “I am a doctor, not a policeman. I’m here to help you,” is an outright lie. This blatant dishonesty destroys one’s trust in doctors over time, Fanon implies, and undermines the real work he is doing now as a psychiatrist.
Themes
Group number four is concerned with those patients who have been brainwashed. Brainwashing practices of the French can be divided into two categories: brainwashing the intellectual and brainwashing the nonintellectual. For intellectuals, role playing is used. Victims are forced to collaborate with the French, as well as give lectures on the value of French culture and dismiss Algerian people and culture. After such brainwashing, symptoms include fear of large discussions and the inability to explain or defend viewpoints.
Again, no one is able to escape the violence and oppression of the colonial situation. The intellectuals, who are likely not involved in the rebellion (they are the one percent of the population that is isolated from the masses), yet they are still targeted. By brainwashing the intellectual, the French can make sure their message gets out in universities and other educational settings.
Themes
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In brainwashing practices for the nonintellectual, the body is beaten in hopes that the national consciousness will dissolve. They are forced to confess that they are not with the liberation movement and that the Algerian fight is wrong. They are forced to declare Algeria’s future is France and recognize the benefit of colonialism. The Algerian is forced to say they are French and say: “Long live France.” The symptomology here is not overly serious. Brainwashed subjects are bruised and crying out for quiet.
In hoping the national consciousness dissolves, the French hope to again strip the Algerians of their national identity and culture, which lives in their national consciousness and their struggle against colonial oppression. They are forced to embrace French nationality and deny their own, which is reflected in the saying “Long live France.”
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